Ventilation on public transport in London

Caroline Russell: The Department for Education has provided schools with CO2 monitors to check there is adequate ventilation to reduce transmission of coronavirus. Has Transport for London (TfL) considered the use of CO2 monitors on public transport to identify areas of poor ventilation and to give information to passengers about the quality of ventilation?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) has considered the use of CO2 monitors on its public transport network to identify areas of poor ventilation. They have been used for sample monitoring to help validate air circulation and movement on buses to enable TfL to ensure its interventions are effective.Given the transient occupancy of the TfL public transport network, regular frequency of door opening, shorter periods on vehicles by passengers and the technical constraints surrounding the use of CO2 monitors in other ‘relatively static’ high-density spaces such as large offices and schools, it was not deemed beneficial to regularly monitor CO2 levels. Moreover, TfL is already taking reasonable practicable measures to mitigate the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
TfL will however continue to maximise the use of its ventilation systems across all transport modes, conduct periodic Covid-19 monitoring (airborne and surface), reinforce the use of face coverings and good hand hygiene, and carry out enhanced cleaning as continued mitigation against the spread of Covid-19.
Regular customer communications are in place throughout the network in the form of advertising posters, social media and radio to reassure customers that with these ventilation systems in place as well as frequent opening of doors, the air is constantly being refreshed throughout their journey and that public transport is no less safe than any other similar space where large numbers of people come together.